Taj The Trees is poised as a “Jewel in the Crown” within Godrej Properties’ award-winning and visionary mixed-use community located in Vikhroli, a suburb in the northeastern mangrove belt of Mumbai. Nestled within this leafy oasis, Taj The Trees serves as the community’s focal point contributing to the vibrancy of the locale and interacting with the adjacencies seamlessly. Sustainably-planned and elegantly-executed, the “campus” stands as a testament to Godrej’s vision to create an environment for people to live, work, collaborate and play.
Inspired by Godrej’s legacy, the architectural design idea germinated from a humble box-like module, to create an elegant composition. Through a refined and pared down expression, the design of the hotel achieves a purity of form comprising an articulated podium base and a strong visual frame for the guest room tower above which are visibly separated by the layer of F&B offerings, pool and other amenities.
Corten-finished vertical fins within the podium which houses the gym and spa are designed as part of a rain screen system and are rhythmically placed to give the podium a degree of visual lightness. The guest room tower above is contained within a bold “super-frame’ that gives prominence to the guest room fenestration which address the mangrove forest on one side and the sculpture park on the other. The central guest room corridors are articulated as a vertical “slit” in the massing of the guest wing tower. They are suffused with natural light and allow views of the surrounds at both ends. A vertical fin providing solar shading is placed at every guest room interval, adding a rhythm and verticality to the overall elevation, as well as contributing to the sustainability goals of the project. Seeking to reflect the materiality of Godrej’s visionary industries throughout the building fabric, a thoughtful combination of steel, glass and clean lines reflects and represents the strength in Vikhroli’s story of housing world-class manufacturing units.
The attention to detail in the landscaping by WATG seeks to reflect Godrej’s continued commitment in sustainability and users’ well-being. As the site is surrounded by apartments and offices, the main landscape areas located at the higher levels – namely the raised lobby drop off, rooftop bar, and pool deck will be visible not only from the guest rooms above, but from the surrounding buildings as well. Integrating seamlessly with the overall masterplan, a sensitive and meaningful visual relationship with its surroundings is created while promoting connectivity, calm, and a sense of place.
The rooftop bar area affords spectacular sunset views and beyond. The pool deck level is divided between the all-day dining, outdoor dining areas and the pool. All three spaces are integrated seamlessly, and yet retain a degree of privacy for each to function through the use of indigenous planting and local stonework.
The result is a celebration of hospitable and sophisticated urban design that welcomes and nourishes guests. Taj The Trees has also received its IGBC Platinum rating, a testament to WATG’s and Godrej’s commitment to building a better future.
